Hard drive protection override

ABSTRACT

A method and system for overriding a hard drive Active Protection System (APS). APS automatically parks a read/write head and locks the platters in a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) in a notebook computer in response to a physical shock, such as when the computer is dropped from the user&#39;s lap or during intense vibration caused by air turbulence during a passenger flight. Rather than permanently disabling the APS off, the present invention permits a convenient method and system for temporarily suspending the operations of the APS, thus allowing the user to still access the HDD in conditions in which motion occurs yet physical shock is not necessarily imminent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to the field of computers, andin particular to protecting a computer from physical shock. Still moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a method and system fortemporarily disabling a hard drive's physical shock protection feature.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most of the components of a computer, including a notebook PersonalComputer (PC), are able to take physical shock, resulting from an eventsuch as being dropped, without permanent damage. This is due to thesemi-rigid design of the packaging (case) of the computer, and the factthat most of the critical components inside the computer are IntegratedCircuit (IC) chips that have no moving parts. However, disk drives, andparticularly Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are prone to permanent damage fromphysical shock (impact).

To protect the HDD in a notebook PC, many HDDs are shock-mounted onrubber or gel-filled washers and corner pads. As noted above, thesemi-rigid case of the notebook PC is designed to absorb energy (flex),thus providing additional impact protection. While such protection maybe adequate if the read/write head on the HDD is parked and notoperating above the media disk inside the HDD, the HDD is nonethelesslikely to be permanently damaged if a read/write operation is occurringwhen the notebook PC is dropped.

To provide protection to an HDD that is dropped during a read/writeoperation (in which the drive head is flying over the media disk),International Business Machines (IBM®) of Armonk, N.Y., has developed afeature called Hard Drive Active Protection System (APS). APS utilizessensors (accelerometers) that detect a dramatic change in the computer'sorientation (such as being dropped, kicked, flipped, etc.). The APS usesa signal from the sensors to predict a physical shock that couldpotentially be transmitted through the notebook PC to the HDD and causedamage to the HDD. As the cliche goes, it's not the fall that hurts,it's the sudden stop. Thus, APS detects that the notebook PC is falling(or otherwise moving in an unhealthy manner), and predicts an imminentphysical shock that is likely to permanently damage the HDD that is in aread/write mode of operation. To avoid such damage, APS suspends HDDoperations by parking the read/write head of the HDD and stopping thehard drive platters from spinning (assuming that a read/write operationwas occurring during the fall). The parking/stopping step takes wellless than 500 milliseconds, which is typically less than the time itwould take the notebook PC to fall from a user's lap to the ground.Furthermore, the APS can park/stop the HDD in response to roughjiggling, such as may occur while being held by a pedestrian user, whilein a vibrating industrial environment, etc. In addition, APS can beconfigured to ignore small sources of vibration, such as repetitivevibrations experienced on a commuter train, that are not likely to beindicative of imminent physical shock.

Setting up APS on the notebook PC begins by setting APS to the “Enabled”mode. Once in this mode, APS behavior can be adjusted, using either amotion sensitivity slider bar on a Graphical User Interface (GUI), or bychecking condition boxes. That is, a slider bar can be moved with apointer to make the APS more or less sensitive to movement, resulting inthe HDD being parked and stopped according to this sensitivity level.Alternatively, activity boxes describing general conditions foractivating APS can be checked. Such conditions may include ignoringsmall, repetitive vibrations such as those experienced when riding on atrain.

After the APS detects movement (fall, vibration, etc.) of the notebookcomputer that is indicative of potential shock, the HDD is stopped. Whenthe HDD is stopped, the read/write head remains parked and softwareoperations requiring access to the HDD cannot proceed. If the movementof the notebook computer continues to meet certain thresholds, APS willto keep the HDD read/write head parked until the computer remains stablefor a predetermined amount of time. From the point in which the notebookcomputer is again stable, the HDD resumes in approximately 1–3 secondsdepending on the situation.

While APS provides excellent protection to the HDD, human factorengineers may be concerned that users will turn off the APS feature ifit is annoyingly intrusive. Accelerometer sensitivity and detectionalgorithms for APS are designed to protect the HDD against worst casescenarios in which the fall or vibration of the notebook computer occursvery quickly. However, APS may periodically stop the HDD in instances inwhich motion meets certain thresholds, but physical shock is notimminent such as when a user is walking and carrying the notebookcomputer with the display open (e.g. to see location of the nextmeeting) or when rough turbulence on airplane occurs. In theseinstances, HDD stoppage may become annoying as the user cannot continuewith any operation that may require HDD access (e.g. opening thecalendar to view meeting details). If the annoyance of periodic orunwanted HDD stoppage is too great, then there is a strong potentialthat the user will decide to permanently turn the APS feature off, thuslosing a valuable safety feature of the computer.

What is needed, therefore, is a method and system that will allow a userto utilize APS with minimal annoyances resulting from the HDD beingstopped. This may include providing a manual method for temporarilyoverriding APS activity or a more advanced automatic method that finetunes APS behavior according to the habits and practices of the user.Preferably, such a method and system will cause the APS to automaticallyhandle physically shock events in a manner prescribed by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is thus directed to a method and system foroverriding a hard drive Active Protection System (APS). APSautomatically parks a read/write head and locks the platters in a HardDisk Drive (HDD) in a notebook computer in response to a physical shock,such as when the computer is dropped from the user's lap or duringintense vibration caused by air turbulence during a passenger flight.Rather than permanently disabling APS the present invention permits aconvenient method and system for temporarily suspending the operationsof the APS, thus allowing the user to still access the HDD in conditionsin which motion occurs yet physical shock is not necessarily imminent.

The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent in the following detailedwritten description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further purposes and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computer system in which the presentinvention may be implemented;

FIG. 2 a is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in which input devices and cursor motion is monitored for anindication that an Active Protection System (APS) should be overridden,thus allowing use of a Hard Disk Drive (HDD);

FIG. 2 b illustrates an exemplary Graphical User Interface (GUI)allowing a user to manually override APS;

FIG. 3 a is a flow chart showing a use of a shock event registry thatallows an “APS SUSPEND” program to learn about a user's preferredresponses to shock events and whether or not to override (suspend) APS;

FIG. 3 b depicts a GUI allowing the user to modify the shock eventregistry;

FIG. 4 is a flow-chart that includes steps for monitoring read/writerequests of the HDD to prompt “APS SUSPEND”;

FIG. 5 a is a flow-chart showing an overview of combined features of thepresent invention, including whether or not to automatically invoke “APSSUSPEND”; and

FIG. 5 b illustrates a GUI that allows the user to automatically invoke“APS SUSPEND.”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the figures, and particularly to FIG. 1 a, thereis depicted a block diagram of an exemplary data processing system inwhich a preferred embodiment of the present invention may beimplemented. Data processing system 100 may be, for example, one of themodels of personal or server computers available from InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y. Data processing system 100includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102, which is connected to asystem bus 108. In the exemplary embodiment, data processing system 100includes a graphics adapter 104 also connected to system bus 108, forproviding user interface information to a display 106.

Also connected to system bus 108 are a system memory 110 and aninput/output (I/O) bus bridge 112. I/O bus bridge 112 couples an I/O bus114 to system bus 108, relaying and/or transforming data transactionsfrom one bus to the other. Peripheral devices such as nonvolatilestorage 116, which may be a hard disk drive, and input device 118, whichmay include a conventional mouse, a trackball, or the like, is connectedto I/O bus 114.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is provided solely for thepurposes of explaining the invention and those skilled in the art willrecognize that numerous variations are possible, both in form andfunction. For instance, data processing system 100 might also include acompact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital versatile disk (DVD)drive, a sound card and audio speakers, and numerous other optionalcomponents. All such variations are believed to be within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

Data processing system 100 also includes a motion sensor 120. Motionsensor 120 contains one or more accelerometers. When data processingsystem 100 is physically moved, motion sensor 120 sends signalsindicating the acceleration and direction of the movement. In apreferred embodiment, motion sensor 120 can provide three-dimensionalinformation. For example, if data processing system 100, such as anotebook computer, starts to fall off a user's lap, the computer willstart tumbling enough to permit the two accelerometers to send twosignals that, when combined, will indicate the direction andacceleration at which the notebook computer is free-falling. Thesesignals are preferably interpreted by CPU 102, but may be interpreted byanother dedicated logic, including an Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 2 a, a flow-chart of steps taken in a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention is presented. Starting atblock 202, an Active Protection System (APS) is enabled in a computer,preferably a notebook computer. The APS detects shock events, whichcould result in damage to the notebook computer's hard drive (HDD), bysensing severe movement of the entire notebook computer (as may occurwhen the notebook computer is dropped, or is used on a bumpy train, oris used while carried by a pedestrian, etc.). The APS suspends operationof the HDD by parking the read/write head and locking (stoppingrotation) of the disk platters in the HDD, thus helping to avoidphysical damage to the read/write head and platters of the HDD.

In addition (at block 202), the present invention generally noted in theblock as “APS SUSPEND” is enabled by the user. That is, a feature thatoffers the user the option of being able to selectively suspend(override) the APS according to conditions/choices described below isenabled.

At block 204, the APS senses a shock event, such as sudden downwardmovement, jostling, vibration, being assaulted against the computer.This shock event is preferably detected by one or more accelerometers ina motion detector, which sends a signal to a processing logic thatinterprets the signal and its corresponding measured shock event. Byinterpreting the signal from the motion detector, the processing logicdetermines that the shock event is potentially harmful to the HDD, andthus parks (the read/write head) and locks (the platters) the HDD.

At block 206, the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm monitors all input devices onthe computer, including the keyboard (block 208) and mouse buttons(block 210). The “APS SUSPEND” algorithm also monitors for any cursormotion (block 212).

At query block 214, the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm detects an input (fromthe keyboard or mouse—blocks 208 and 210) or cursor movement (block212). The “APS SUSPEND” algorithm then evaluates the input and/or cursormovement. This evaluation is based on recognizing inputs that would notnormally be made if the HDD had not been parked and locked at aninopportune time. For example, assume that an application requires aread/write operation with the HDD when the “Enter” key is depressed. Ifthe HDD is parked and locked under APS, then nothing will happen whenthe “Enter” key is engaged. The user, thinking that he did not fullydepress the key, will likely re-press the key. If frustrated by the lackof response, the “Enter” key may be depressed several times in rapidsuccession. This is an indicator to the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm that theuser may want to override (suspend) APS, allowing access to the HDD.Other indicative inputs may be two or more rapidly consecutive doubleclicks from mouse buttons, or three or more seconds of constant erraticcursor motion (indicating an attempt to wake up the computer by wigglingthe mouse). The term “erratic cursor motion” is defined as that motionwhich is identified by the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm as being non-usefulto an application. That is, “erratic cursor motion” does not invoke orenable a function of the application.

If none of the inputs or cursor movements indicate that the user wantsto suspend APS (block 216), then nothing further happens, and the “APSSUSPEND” algorithm will continue to monitor new inputs/cursor movements.However, if “APS SUSPEND” detects an input/cursor movement indicatingthat the user wants the computer to unfreeze (override APS so that theHDD can be accessed), then an “APS SUSPEND BUTTON” dialog is presented(block 218) on the computer's screen, and the user decides whether tooverride (suspend) APS (block 220). An example of such a dialog box isshown in FIG. 2 b. Consider Graphical User Interface (GUI) 201, which isdisplaying a running application 203. When APS has parked and locked theHDD, and yet the user needs to access the HDD (as evidenced by theuser's inputs or the cursor movements described above), then a dialogbox 205 is displayed, asking the user if she wants to override APS. Ifso, then accept button 207 is clicked; if not, then decline button 209is clicked.

Returning now to FIG. 2 a, if the user decides not to override APS(block 220) by entering “APS SUSPEND,” then the HDD remains parked andlocked, and the cycle continues as shown. However, if the user doesdecide to enter “APS SUSPEND,” the APS enters into a suspend state inwhich the HDD is once again accessible (block 222). The HDD remainsaccessible (APS is suspended) for a pre-determined amount of time (block224), after which time the HDD is once again stopped by APS. This amountof pre-determined time may be automatically set by the “APS SUSPEND”algorithm, or the time may be entered manually by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm is heuristic,able to learn what the user's preferences are based on pastexperiences/events. To describe a preferred embodiment of this heuristiccapability, reference is now made to FIG. 3 a. Steps 302 through 316 arethe same as described for FIG. 2 a's respective steps 302 through 216and will not be reiterated here.

If the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm determines that the user is trying toaccess the HDD when APS has stopped it (block 314), then the shock eventthat caused APS to run is compared to past shock events that have beenpreviously stored by a user in an event registry in the computer (queryblock 318). Shock event details that may be compared in the registryinclude, but are not limited to, maximum acceleration level, direction,length time) of the movement, time of day, open software applications,previous user actions (e.g. keyboard or mouse activity).

The past shock events in the event registry (referenced in query block318) are those events that have been previously-recorded in the eventregistry at block 324. The steps taken to create and update this eventregistry are described in blocks 320 and 322, as well as FIG. 3 b. Withreference then to FIG. 3 b, a GUI 301 shows a Running Application 303that is interrupted by a display panel 305. The display panel 305provides options to the user for how to respond to a shock event (seeblock 320 in FIG. 3 a). A message appears in display panel 305 informingthe user that a first-time shock event has occurred, and offers the usermultiple options for how the computer should respond now and in thefuture to such an event. For example, the user may choose to always beprompted for action (button 307), such as being offered a dialog box 205shown in FIG. 2 b. Alternatively, the user may elect to let APS continueto do its job as originally designed (button 309), which is totemporarily stop (park and lock) the HDD in response to this type ofshock event.

Returning again to FIG. 3 a, once the user has made her selection (block322), then the appropriate response for the future is recorded in theshock event registry (block 324).

With reference again to query block 318, there are three possibleresults of the comparison of the current shock event with those storedin the registry. Two of the results are “NO” and one is “YES.” The first“NO” result (“NO-1”) occurs when this type of shock event is a firsttime event, and thus the steps just described for blocks 320 through 324are taken. The second “NO” result (“NO-2”) occurs when this type ofshock event has occurred before, but the user has previously registeredher decision not to override APS, in which case the process goes back upto block 306.

The “YES” result occurs when the user has previously indicated that aprompt is desired for action, thus the “APS SUSPEND” button dialog isdisplayed (block 326), such as the dialog box 205 shown in FIG. 2 b.From block 326, the user decides whether or not to suspend APS (block328), thus potentially entering an “APS SUSPEND” state (block 330) forsome pre-determined length of time (block 332).

Besides monitoring for attempted input activity while APS has parked andlocked the HDD, the present invention can also monitor applicationand/or operating system (OS) software to determine if the HDD should beresumed (the APS overridden). With reference then to FIG. 4, the APS and“APS SUSPEND” features are enabled (block 402), allowing the APS to stopthe HDD after sensing a shock event (block 404), and allowing the “APSSUSPEND” algorithm to monitor for activity that may indicate that APSshould be overridden (block 406). Thus, as described in previousfigures, the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm monitors the keyboard (block 408),mouse button (block 410), and cursor motion (block 412). In addition,however, the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm also monitors the I/O bus 114 shownin FIG. 1 for any request for a read or write operation from nonvolatilestorage 116 (HDD). This monitoring is preferably performed by CPU 102,but may be accomplished by a special logic, including an ASIC (notshown), that monitors I/O bus 114 for such activity.

Continuing with FIG. 4, the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm determines if eitherattempted input activity, cursor movement, or an HDD request indicates aneed to override APS (block 416). If not, then the HDD remains stopped(block 418) and any new events are monitored (block 406). However, ifthe “APS SUSPEND” does indicate that the APS may need to be overridden,then different steps are taken depending on whether there is auser-updated event registry, such as described in FIG. 3 a. If such aregistry is in effect, then the shock event is compared with theregistry previously created (block 420), and APS is either overridden ornot, depending on choices made by the user when setting up the registryentry that describes the present shock event. If there is not suchregistry, then APS is suspended for a pre-determined period of time(blocks 422 and 424). Although not shown as a step (block) in FIG. 4,before entering the “APS SUSPEND” state referenced in block 422, aprompt (such as dialog box 205 shown in FIG. 2 b) may be shown to theuser.

FIG. 5 a provides a compilation overview of features of the presentinvention. Starting at block 502, APS and “APS SUSPEND” are enabled. APSsenses a real-time shock event and suspends (parks/locks) the HDD (block504). “APS SUSPEND” then monitors for activity indicative of a need toemploy “APS SUSPEND” (blocks 506 and 516), including keyboard (block508), mouse button (block 510), cursor motion (block 512), or HDD accessrequest (block 514) activity. If such or similar activity is notdetected (block 518), then the process returns to monitoring block 506.If such an event is detected, a query is made as to whether there is ashock event registry (query block 520). If so, then the recentlydetected shock event is compared with those defined and stored in theshock event registry (query block 522). If there is such an eventrecorded, then a query is made as to whether “APS SUSPEND” is inautomatic or manual mode (query block 524). If there is no eventregistry, manual method is employed, as described above.

Whether or not “APS SUSPEND” is in the automatic or manual mode dependson a previous response by the user when updating the shock eventregistry. For example, with reference now to FIG. 5 b, a GUI 501 shows aRunning Application that is interrupted by a display panel 505. Thedisplay panel 505 provides options to the user for how to respond to ashock event (see block 530 in FIG. 5 a). A message appears in displaypanel 505 informing the user that a first-time shock event has occurred,and offers the user multiple options on how to the computer shouldrespond now and in the future to such an event. For example, the usermay choose to always be prompted for action (button 507), such as beingoffered a dialog box 205 shown in FIG. 2 b. Alternatively, the user mayelect to always override the APS (button 509), thus letting the HDDcontinue to run unprotected from this type of shock event.Alternatively, the user may elect to let APS continue to do its job asoriginally designed (button 511), which is to temporarily disable (parkand lock) the HDD in response to this type of shock event. Buttons 509and 511 therefore put “APS SUSPEND” into an “automatic mode,” since nofurther action must be taken by the user when subsequent similar shockevents occur. Button 507 places “APS SUSPEND” into a “manual mode,”since the user must manually decide how to respond to subsequent similarshock events.

Referring again to FIG. 5 a, if the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm is in manualmode, then the “APS SUSPEND” button and dialog are displayed (block526), and the user chooses whether or not to suspend APS (block 528). Ifthe user chooses not to suspend APS, then the registry, if existent, maybe updated (blocks 520, 532, and 534). If the user chooses to suspendAPS, then APS is suspended for the pre-determined amount of time set by“APS SUSPEND” (blocks 536 and 538).

If the “APS SUSPEND” algorithm is in automatic mode, then APS isautomatically either suspended (block 536) or allowed to run normally(block 504).

While the present invention is described as generally suspending APS,note that in a preferred embodiment critical levels of APS protectionstay in place even when “APS SUSPEND” is activated. That is, even while“APS SUSPEND” suspends APS protection for most physical shock events,there are some shock events that have a high risk of causing permanentdamage to the HDD. Such events include movement indicative of a quickdrop of the notebook PC, being subjected to vibration forces soexcessive as to certainly damage the HDD, et al. Thus, even when thecomputer is in “APS SUSPEND” mode, APS continues to monitor for suchcertain catastrophic events, and will override “APS SUSPEND” to stop andprotect the HDD. Acceleration and movement thresholds for potentialcatastrophic events are pre-determined and will automatically triggerAPS to override of the “APS SUSPEND” function.

It should be understood that at least some aspects of the presentinvention may alternatively be implemented in a program product.Programs defining functions on the present invention can be delivered toa data storage system or a computer system via a variety ofsignal-bearing media, which include, without limitation, non-writablestorage media (e.g., CD-ROM), writable storage media (e.g., a floppydiskette, hard disk drive, read/write CD ROM, optical media), andcommunication media, such as computer and telephone networks includingEthernet. It should be understood, therefore in such signal-bearingmedia when carrying or encoding computer readable instructions thatdirect method functions in the present invention, represent alternativeembodiments of the present invention. Further, it is understood that thepresent invention may be implemented by a system having means in theform of hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware asdescribed herein or their equivalent.

Note again that for the purposes of the claims, the term “shock event”is defined as a physical movement of a computer that may potentiallydamage the HDD in the computer. Examples of such shock events include,but are not limited to, the computer being operated in a highlyvibratory environment, such as may be found on various forms of publictransportation, or the computer being dropped from a work surface orlap, or when computer is jostled or dropped while being held by a userwho is walking.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method comprising: enabling a hard drive active protection system,the hard drive active protection system being capable of suspendingoperation of a hard drive in a computer when the computer is subjectedto a shock event that is potentially harmful to the hard drive; sensinga real-time shock event that is potentially harmful to the hard drive;in response to sensing the real-time shock event that is potentiallyharmful to the hard drive, suspending operation of the hard drive withthe hard drive active protection system; determining that access to thehard drive is needed while the operation of the hard drive is suspended;and in response to determining that access to the hard drive is neededwhile the operation of the hard drive is suspended, overriding the harddrive active protection system to permit the hard drive to functionnormally.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a determination as towhether the hard drive active protection system should be overridden ismade according to an input selected by a user from a dialog options boxthat is prompted by the real-time shock event.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the determination to override the hard drive active protectionsystem is made by: determining that the real-time shock event isequivalent to a previously recorded shock event; reading the user'sinput selected from the dialog options box for the previously-recordedshock event; and in response to determining that the user chose tooverride the hard drive active protection system for thepreviously-recorded shock event, overriding the hard drive protectionsystem for the real-time shock event.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe determination that access to the hard drive is needed is made byidentifying multiple inputs from a key on a keyboard.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the determination that access to the hard drive isneeded is made by identifying multiple successive double-clicks of amouse button.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination thataccess to the hard drive is needed is made by identifying erratic cursormovement.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination thataccess to the hard drive is needed is made by identifying a softwarerequest for a read/write operation by the hard drive.
 8. A systemcomprising: means for enabling a hard drive active protection system,the hard drive active protection system being capable of suspendingoperation of a hard drive in a computer when the computer is subjectedto a shock event that is potentially harmful to the hard drive; meansfor sensing a real-time shock event that is potentially harmful to thehard drive; means for in response to sensing the real-time shock eventthat is potentially harmful to the hard drive, suspending operation ofthe hard drive with the hard drive active protection system; means fordetermining that access to the hard drive is needed while the operationof the hard drive is suspended; and means for in response to determiningthat access to the hard drive is needed while the operation of the harddrive is suspended, overriding the hard drive active protection systemto permit the hard drive to function normally.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein the determination as to whether the hard drive active protectionsystem should be suspended is made according to an input selected by auser from a dialog options box that is prompted by the real-time shockevent.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the determination to overridethe hard drive active protection system is made by: determining that thereal time shock event is equivalent to a previously recorded shockevent; reading the user's input selected from the dialog options box forthe previously-recorded shock event; and in response to determining thatthe user chose to override the hard drive active protection system forthe previously-recorded shock event, overriding the hard driveprotection system for the real-time shock event.
 11. The system of claim8, wherein the determination that access to the hard drive is needed ismade by identifying multiple inputs from a key on a keyboard.
 12. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the determination that access to the harddrive is needed is made by identifying multiple successive double-clicksof a mouse button.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the determinationthat access to the hard drive is needed is made by identifying erraticcursor movement.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the determinationthat access to the hard drive is needed is made by identifying asoftware request for a read/write operation by the hard drive.
 15. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the system is a notebook computer.
 16. Acomputer readable medium encoded with a computer program, comprising:program code for enabling a hard drive active protection system, thehard drive active protection system being capable of suspendingoperation of a hard drive in a computer when the computer is subjectedto a shock event that is potentially harmful to the hard drive; programcode for sensing a real-time shock event that is potentially harmful tothe hard drive; program code for, in response to sensing the real-timeshock event that is potentially harmful to the hard drive, suspendingoperation of the hard drive with the hard drive active protectionsystem; program code for determining that access to the hard drive isneeded while the operation of the hard drive is suspended; and programcode for, in response to determining that access to the hard drive isneeded while the operation of the hard drive is suspended, overridingthe hard drive active protection system to permit the hard drive tofunction normally.
 17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, whereinthe determination as to whether the hard drive active protection systemshould be suspended is made according to an input selected by a userfrom a dialog options box that is prompted by the real-time shock event.18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the determinationto override the hard drive active protection system is made by:determining that the real-time shock event is equivalent to apreviously-recorded shock event; reading the user's input selected fromthe dialog options box for the previously-recorded shock event; and inresponse to determining that the user chose to override the hard driveactive protection system for the previously-recorded shock event,overriding the hard drive protection system for the real-time shockevent.
 19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein thedetermination that access to the hard drive is needed is made byidentifying erratic cursor movement.
 20. The computer readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein the determination that access to the hard drive isneeded is made by identifying a software request for a read/writeoperation by the hard drive.